Interplay of magnetic interactions and active movements in the formation of magnetosome chains.

ABSTRACT: Magnetotactic bacteria assemble chains of magnetosomes, organelles that contain magnetic nano-crystals. A number of genetic factors involved in the controlled biomineralization of these crystals and the assembly of magnetosome chains have been identified in recent years, but how the specific biological regulation is coordinated with general physical processes such as diffusion and magnetic interactions remains unresolved. Here, these questions are addressed by simulations of different scenarios for magnetosome chain formation, in which various physical processes and interactions are either switched on or off. The simulation results indicate that purely physical processes of magnetosome diffusion, guided by their magnetic interactions, are not sufficient for the robust chain formation obser

SUBMITTER: Klumpp S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3307741 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature